Chief chides children fishers

 Senior Chief Kalonga of Karonga has expressed disappointment with children who venture into fishing in the district.

In an interview, the chief said allowing children to take part in the fishing industry will increase school dropouts.

Said Kalonga: “If we do not intervene, the district will lose a number of school boys to the industry.

“So, I urge parents and non-governmental organisations to join hands to remove children from the lake.”

He said he will engage his fellow chiefs to formulate by-laws to prevent children from working in the fishing industry.

In a separate interview, Karonga district fisheries officer William Chirwa said there is no law that encourages children to venture into fishing.

“It is the duty of parents to protect their children,” he said.

Chirwa further said the Fisheries Department recommends fishing for only those who have licences.

One parent, Janet Mwakilama, said some of the children go fishing on their own while others are recruited as crew members in fishing camps.

She said: “There are also some parents who send boys into fishing because of poverty.

“I ask well-wishers to support such families with basic needs to send their children to school.”

During a tour of some fishing grounds, Malawi News Agency saw some children mending meshes in fishing canoes.

Besides fishing, some people engage children in small-scale business such as selling water, bananas and plastic bag